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PKNS prepared to stop Darul Ta’zim hitman
REPORTS BY AJITPAL SINGH ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my
PKNS are ready to face the threat from Darul Ta’zim’s new signing Mohammed Ghaddar when they meet the Super League champions at Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow.
Ghaddar was recruited by Darul Ta’zim recently after scoring 18 goals in 12 matches for Kelantan.
The Lebanese international’s registration with Darul Ta’zim is still pending but the Johor club is expected to sort out the issue for the striker to make his debut with his new team against PKNS.
Darul Ta’zim lead the league with 27 points while PKNS are on a mission to avoid relegation at ninth position with 11 points.
PKNS, however, need to reshuffle their line-up for the match as Argentine centre-back Gonzalo Soto is down with a knee injury while Safee Sali cannot be fielded as part of the clause when he signed with E. Elavarasan’s side from Darul Ta’zim.
The match is also a decider for PKNS’ foreign players to buck up as the club may make changes to their squad before the mid-season transfer window ends on June 11.
Soto is in Argentina seeking treatment for his knee and PKNS are waiting for his medical report on whether the injury is serious.
“Whether Ghaddar plays or not on Wednesday, we will be ready for him. Ghaddar likes to beat defenders and reacts well to rebounds,” said Elavarasan yesterday.
“Darul Ta’zim are already strong and the inclusion of Ghaddar will add more bite to their attack. We are hosting them here and I hope the players can earn something from this match.”
In Soto’s absence, Elavarasan is expected to pair up either M. Sivakumar or Abdul Ghani Rahman with Fauzan Dzulkifli in the heart of defence tomorrow.
PKNS have drawn five matches and lost three times since the 3-0 success over Perak on Feb 11 in the league.
Meanwhile, Melaka coach Eric Williams has been rested for the game against Felda United in Jengka tomorrow. His assistant, G. Selvamohan, will take charge of the team.
“Williams informed me that he is ill and we subsequently decided to rest him until further notice," said Melaka United Soccer Association deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi.